The Hospice journal
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Oncology and hospice literature have addressed the problem of psychiatric complications, secondary to the stressors of diagnosis and treatment. This literature focuses particularly on depression and anxiety, which not only compound patients' suffering but also may interfere with optimal care. ⋯ In order to contribute to collegial dialogue that addresses this minority population in hospice services, a case study is presented in this article of the process of care for a hospice patient with a preexisting psychiatric condition. Interventions are suggested, using a theoretical matrix of hospice philosophy and principles of care for manipulative patients.
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A state-wide survey was conducted of highly effective hospice volunteers who were questioned about their motivations for becoming a volunteer, training experience and needs, and reasons for continuing in the volunteer role. Needs identified included having a volunteer support group, on-going training opportunities, and opportunities for getting to know other volunteers better. Excellent training, belief in the hospice mission, the relationship with staff, feeling valued, and personal fulfillment were strengths and motivations to continue as a hospice volunteer. Findings from the study will be helpful to hospice staff who recruit, train, and support volunteers.
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The Hospice journal · Jan 1996
Comparative StudyDifferences in patient demographics and expenditures among Medicare hospice providers.
This study compares differences in demographics and Medicare expenditures for beneficiaries in 4 different types of hospice programs: hospital based, skilled nursing facility (SNF) based, home health agency based, and freestanding across the years 1987-1990. Enrollment and expenditures in hospital based hospices is increasing faster than for other types of hospices; at the same time, both hospital and SNF based programs are attracting greater proportions of non-white and female beneficiaries but fewer beneficiaries with non-cancer diagnoses. These results indicate that expansion of the hospice benefit has increased institutionalized use of hospice and that this institutionalized form of hospice may benefit demographic groups that previously underutilized the hospice benefit.
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Functioning as a hospital-based hospice program of a large medical center, bereavement services are not limited to hospice families in one location. Bereavement services are offered to those who died within the medical center and to the residents of the three county area the hospice serves. This paper identifies ways to offer bereavement follow-up to hospice and non-hospice families. ⋯ We will discuss survey results, meeting and support group data used to generate supporting information to allow our services to grow. Learning objectives for this article consist of readers being able to identify ways to develop and expand bereavement services; incorporating various types of death in a support group setting; and ways to better serve non-hospice families in need of bereavement follow-up. Topics include a description of Bereavement Services; Pre-Death Bereavement Intervention; Open and Closed Support groups; Routine Bereavement Follow-up of Hospice families; Quarterly Nursing Home Staff Support groups; Widow/Widower Brunch Social; opportunities to educate the community about Death/Dying; and data collection for Bereavement Needs.
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This study examines demographic, medical, and psychosocial variables in relation to preference regarding place of death on the part of 171 patients and their families treated at the Home Care Unit of the Oncology Department at Linn Clinic in Haifa, Israel, in 1992-93. Women who had breast cancer, and patients aged 50-59 with few mobility problems, preferred to die at home. ⋯ Patients with prostate and brain cancer and patients aged 60 and older spent the most time (1-3 weeks) in a nursing home and tended to die there. Patients who were in a hospice tended to speak less about death than other patients.